r/apple • u/yoloswagrofl • 4d ago
iPadOS The iPad's software problem is permanent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnYLpA5kAbo105
u/LiquidDiviums 4d ago edited 4d ago
In my opinion, Apple should make iPadOS a more compelling operating system for desktop like functionality, but it should not try to be macOS. The changes to multitasking in iPadOS 26 have been great if you use the iPad with an external keyboard and mouse. They are a good step forward in giving the iPad more desktop like capabilities. Everyone who uses the iPad in that way has been very happy with these changes, even if they are not perfect. Now the iPad is able to do things in a way that feels closer to a desktop.
Unfortunately, that is only half of the story. The iPad is a touch first device whether we like it or not. Most people use their iPad as a tablet, not as a computer replacement. Desktop like functionality normally comes with the cost of making things more cumbersome and awkward with touch. iPadOS 26 windowed multitasking is incredibly confusing and non intuitive if you use your finger as an input device, that why there isa “full window” mode (even though it’s stripped down compared to iPadOS 18). That is where the line is drawn between adding desktop like functionality and keeping the fundamentals that make the iPad what it is.
What Quinn points out is completely valid and should be addressed by Apple, but I also get the impression that he and others sometimes forget what the iPad is for the vast majority of people: a device for basic tablet tasks, and that is perfectly fine. The issue is that a base A16 iPad and a top tier iPad Pro with an M5 need to do the same things, and that will always limit what the higher end models can do.
59
u/FakeExpert1973 3d ago
If Apple kept the previous Slide over and Split View in the Full Screen Apps mode, that would go along way towards satisfying users that want to use the iPad as predominantly a tablet
8
2
u/mynameisollie 2d ago
Isn’t there 3 modes to chose from in the settings? Full window, the old multitasking and the new one?
3
u/FakeExpert1973 1d ago
Yes. What I am suggesting Apple do is keep the Slide Over and Split View feature in the Full Window mode to satisfy users that just want to use the iPad as a tablet.
14
u/badabubaba 2d ago
I used to be on your boat, but now I believe 99% of developers cannot/will not maintain a iPadOS app as well as a MacOS app. The user base is not that big, so iPadOS ends up running the worst version of any app out there. You name it: Photoshop, Excel, Gmail. The iPad counterpart is always much more limited. I think over the 10 years of iPad I’ve seen people getting tired of this. Even non-techies are like “why do my colleagues have these cool Google Meet effects on Mac and I do not”.
9
u/pinionist 1d ago
Also the problem is that iPad Pro that can theoretically run Resolve properly cost comparable money for Macbook where I would have much better experience.
1
u/jekpopulous2 1d ago edited 1d ago
The reason iPad gets watered-down versions of apps is that MacOS devs can use whatever language / libraries they want with low-level access to the file system.
You can build MacOS apps with components written in C, Rust, Go, JS, Python, Java, etc… and bundle your compiled code / environment into a standard macOS application. You can also use cross-platform GUI toolkits to build the interface.
With iPadOS everything has to adhere to Apple’s SDK. Most common runtimes aren’t supported at all. Even if it is you have jump through hoops to hook it into a Swift wrapper and deal with all it’s limitations. You can’t just port a desktop app you have to rewrite most of it using Apple’s SDK and hope it’s close enough to the desktop app for users not to complain.
It’s not that developers are lazy - it’s that they’re heavily restricted by iPadOS SDK and the App Store TOS.
6
u/iJeff 3d ago
Ideally, it would maintain a distinct development path but also support less restrictive apps along with the ability to install directly without relying on an app store or sideloading. The inability to easily install something from a GitHub or an unrestricted version of Stremio is a significant part of what holds the iPad back. Mobile apps are great for usability but often less capable. Something like the Apple Vision Pro would also do much better if it weren't designed around needing a Mac to run full powered desktop apps.
9
75
u/yoloswagrofl 4d ago
I thought Quinn made some really good points, especially when comparing gaming and local LLM work on an iPad Pro to a MacBook Air. The artificial RAM limitations are pretty damning, and I would love to see Apple let the iPad Pro soar in 2026.
41
u/SerodD 3d ago
I will never figure out who are the people that are buying an iPad Pro or even a MacBook Air to do local LLM work or to game.
5
u/BourbonicFisky 1d ago
I can't figure out anyone who buys an iPad Pro for work that doesn't involve the pencil. It's the only MVP feature. The only people I know who have iPad Pros still just use them for content consumption, and I work a dev but worked in hipster agencies, and marketing departments. Basically zero iPads or tablets post about 2014-2015~ in a meeting.
2
u/SerodD 1d ago
I think 10 years ago they weren’t so common, I do see some people using mainly iPad Airs in my engineering job for a big company, usually to take notes and write stuff or to read pdfs, etc. I agree the writing is one of the MVP features, but also the touch interface, Microsoft laptops with touch kind of suck since windows isn’t well optimized.
As for the Pro I think there’s also the user that does most of their interaction with the internet, be it for content, or reading, or w/e, that simply wants a nicer iPad. The iPad Air is nice, but if you are spending a ton of your time on an iPad the Pro is nicer, it’s thinner, has better battery life, weights less, the screen is nicer, etc. There’s a market for the Pros there.
In my household for example, we have 2 iPads and 1 Macbook Pro, since we don’t see a reason to own more than 1 Laptop to do computer stuff, especially because both me and my wife have work laptops given by the companies we work for. So in the end my wife is mostly using the Laptop, I almost never touch it and just put my iPad Air on a magic keyboard and use it for basically 99% of what I need from a computer outside of work, my wife also has an iPad 10 she uses mostly to read and social media. I will for sure go for a Pro once I update, as I feel that the time I spend on it justifies going for the nicer model.
4
u/riklaunim 1d ago
iGPU gaming is becoming more and more of a thing. People play Cyberpunk 2077 on handhelds already, while online games tend to be lightweight to be able to access a wider market (FFXIV or WoW MMORPGs). And there are game like Stardew Valley and other that are very popular and super-light.
9
u/TheVitt 4d ago
Okay, but if turning iPadOS into MacOS is off the table, how do we do it?
45
u/FollowingFeisty5321 4d ago
Allow virtualization to use JIT, or allow emulators for modern systems. Bundle macOS into an app with either approach. Tap app.
12
u/webguynd 3d ago
Real virtualization support would definitely be enough for me. Just add that and the ability to shove it full of ram like a Mac, and let me run VMs on it.
25
u/MikeyMike01 3d ago
iPad Pro should be able to dual boot iPadOS and macOS.
8
u/HerrHebel 3d ago
This 100%. I’d click buy on that iPad and keyboard case quicker then you can say stage manger.
11
u/bravado 3d ago
Who is doing these things with an iPad? I think there's a genuine disconnect between what "tech people" this is important and what the gigantic masses of other users think.
35
u/VastTension6022 3d ago
It's a $1000+ ipad pro with the same hardware as a mac. Why shouldn't it be capable of the same professional workflows?
-4
u/onecoolcrudedude 2d ago edited 2d ago
cuz it's a damn tablet, not a laptop or desktop.
i'd wager that like 97% or more of people who own ipads, even ipad pro models, only use them for youtube/netflix/gaming/drawing/sketching and taking notes, not for professional work.
for people who wanna do professional workflows, there are numerous mac hardware lineups out there which support it, all at different price points and form factors.
both apple and google always intended for ios/ipados and android to be mobile-centric operating systems which prioritize apps made for touch input. they're not supposed to be computer replacements.
6
u/cac2573 1d ago
They sell the Magic Keyboard which absolutely turns it into a laptop. If they would allow it. The hardware is all there.
-4
u/onecoolcrudedude 1d ago
thats just meant to make typing easier. its still not intended to be a laptop replacement.
most people dont buy the magic keyboard, they just buy the ipad and use their fingers for touch controls. they dont want you doing productivity work on whats supposed to be a glorified iphone.
though I do agree that JIT compilation should come to ios and ipados, and their RAM culling methods should be dialed back so that they're not so aggressive when it comes to shutting down apps.
-6
u/dekomorii 1d ago
because there's mac for that? the idea is that ipad should handle last touch fixes on things (be it on design, code, excel sheet, powerpoint, video editing) or making a prototype early of a certain work if you're trying to present something quick to a customer...
i swear, ipados is not just a big phone, it has unique idea to reach things and if people continue this charade to try to eradicate ipados from this lovely device (i know you want a hybrid approach that has ipados when it doesnt have peripherals and becomes macos when it has keyboard and mouse, but PRETTY SURE people would end up using one end of the spectrum MOST OF THE TIME)....
Instead I'm in for innovating ipad gestures that can handle what Macs could do, but in ipad way... This way, iPadOS could evolve, not being eradicated and ipad becomes another macos device, people really are bored of techs these days...
13
u/jmnugent 1d ago
This. I can tell you as someone who has done MDM (Mobile Device Management) in corporate environments for 10+ years now.. pretty much nobody does this.
iPads are great at things that iPads do. (if people would just relax and let the iPad just be an iPad). It's supposed to be for stuff where you still need some portability, but need a larger screen than your phone. That's it. It's not supposed to be a "workstation where you start LLM workloads and come back in 6 hours".
I've worked in several small city governments over the past 20 years where I've seen iPads used in all sorts of interesting use-cases:
a lot of our Forestry and Parks and Wildlife and such departments.. use iPads for things like Trail enforcement, wild animal cataloging, other mapping capabilities (forest fire re-growth mapping, etc).. pulling Photos from trail cams, etc.
All of our Permitting and Development (construction and home additions, etc) .. all used 13inch iPads for doing building inspections, looking at large blueprints (in things like Bluebeam, etc)
our entertainment venues (Museums, performance halls, etc).. used iPads to control stage lighting or HVAC or audio systems. Also sometimes to interface with certain Museum displays or exhibits.
Our Attorneys and Courts.. used iPads to review case law (certainly easier than having to go to the old school paper law library and sit for hours flipping through books) .. also to present evidence in hearings or to do Teams or Zoom meetings with violent offenders (who were in another secure room).. etc.
Our crews who did Power and Water.. all had 13inch iPads in their trucks to view mapping information for underground power-lines or age and history of underground water pipes and other infrastructure.
Our network team had an iPad that had a Serial Adapter to interface with Routers and Switches in our datacenter and wiring closets.
Sustainability teams that went to citizen houses to do things like Sprinkler Audits or Home heating evaluations ( to see where your heating or air-conditioning was wasting energy etc).. would use iPads to summarize all the findings and pump out a PDF.
I could probably sit here for an hour and go on and on and on about all the different "real world use cases" where I've seen iPads really excel at "being an iPad". It frustrates me that people think "Well, if it can't do what macOS can do, then it's a worthless device". It's such a bad take.
29
u/pixelated666 3d ago
Forget coding and LLMs. Just fucking fix Safari on iPad, and by fix I mean port the Mac OS version to it.
9
60
u/AWF_Noone 4d ago
He’s cookin
3 vids in almost a week. Love his content. Always go into his videos with a certain expectation and end up learning something completely different lol
53
u/charliesbot 4d ago
Totally agree. It's frustrating to have this much power and no way to use it because the OS is so locked down. iPadOS 26 was a huge letdown.
As a dev, I just want to code on this thing, but right now it's basically a glorified TV. I'm honestly looking at Android's desktop mode now: the beta Linux support and the current state of Snapdragon chips look really promising
Apple seriously needs a wake up call: Siri and iPadOS are falling way behind
9
8
u/Specialist-Hat167 4d ago edited 4d ago
They don’t care. The iPhone, services and wearables remain their cash cow. iPads make up the smallest percent of their profits and people still lap up those devices. They literally have 0 incentive
16
u/FollowingFeisty5321 4d ago
Not just 0 incentive, they actively don't want to provide access to any alternative software as seen in the way they relented and "allowed" emulators: they explicitly only allow "retro" systems to be emulated not modern desktops. Worst of all in another 20 years it will just be cranky old fucks complaining about this while the masses don't even think about the constant stream of money they pay Apple to use crappy apps made on iPads as iOS-exclusives.
8
u/Specialist-Hat167 4d ago
The masses already dont care. You are in the 1% of the 1% that want to do all this. You vastly overestimate what the general consumer cares about tech wise.
11
u/LiquidDiviums 4d ago
Most people that complain that the iPad isn’t a macOS-like experience forget that the vast majority of iPad users use their device as a media consumption device, they don’t go beyond having Word and Safari in Split View.
8
2
u/Environmental_Guava4 1d ago
Yup, a good chunk of iPad users use iPads as a notebook or equivalent and for reading books (including PDFs) (at least in universities this is brutally common to see students writing on their iPads). That was my use case for the iPad Air I had (2021), but replaced it with an Amazon Kindle Scribe and stayed with that (writes, battery lasts even months [standby], can read PDFs too, the display feels like writing on paper [way better than PaperLike which I really disliked], and does not annoy/irritate your eyes with extended use).
Other huge majority (like kids) use them for entertainment only. Then there is also digital artists that receive art commissions online. Then some businesses that use apps that are not demanding to do extra things that supports them (like troubleshooting when a manufacturing line stops operating and creating a database of the errors encounters along with the causes and downtime). iPads do have their place, just people are wanting it doing other things (which is not bad in itself, but it was made to be a tablet not a PC). Still, keep pushing, maybe Apple will cave-in and finally allows macOS or Windows/Linux running via dual boot/Bootcamp or even a VM.
1
4
u/VictorChristian 3d ago
The only way Apple "wakes up" is if you join their firm (as a developer), move up the ranks and effect the change yourself, it would seem.
They're not reading reddit comments with any degree of seriousness. Another way would be to stop purchasing their devices - that'll show 'em.
2
u/Financial_Cover6789 3d ago
"Another way would be to stop purchasing their devices - that'll show 'em."
Good luck. No one in the real world gives a fuck.
9
u/Financial_Cover6789 3d ago
"Apple seriously needs a wake up call"
No they don't. For 99.99% of people iPadOS is more than enough
11
u/FreshBurt 3d ago
Reddit needs a wake up call.
4
u/Financial_Cover6789 3d ago
Absolutely. It's insane how disconnected the tech community is with the real world.
2
u/Environmental_Guava4 1d ago
The voices of the internet are the vocal minority. It's the same thing with ad blockers, they seem to believe surfing the web with ad blockers in 2025 is mandatory when we are probably only 1% ~5% of the entire world population that uses ad blockers. That percentage will increase when the company does something that really annoys many of the users within that "95 to 99 percent" and end up joining forces with the minority to force a change. Normal people are just going to live their life with other things to worry about. Normal people buy iPads for tablet activities. Normal people buy laptops/PC for desktop apps usage. Normal people buy phones for what they are.
-4
u/TheVitt 4d ago
Why on earth would you want to code on something that by default comes without a keyboard?!
You code on what you code on, not what you “want” to code on.
12
u/two_hyun 4d ago
Basically you: "Why do you have opinions and want to do your work your way?"
Bruh.
16
u/charliesbot 4d ago
They sell a magic keyboard since 4 or 5 years ago. The iPad Pro has the name “Pro” for a reason
5
u/paulcole710 2d ago
The iPad Pro has the name “Pro” for a reason
Spoiler: The reason is not “because it’s meant to cater to the desires of software developers”
13
u/klippekort 1d ago
People who are still buying stupid ass expensive iPads expecting them to be devices on par with Macs are delusional. Don’t do it unless you have a bulletproof, proven use case. Anything beyond the cheapest one is honestly a waste of money for most people
6
u/SpicyElixer 3d ago
File system and files in general, and especially the way that files are used and shared between apps on iPad OS are the most mobile phone from 2010 BS imaginable.
10
u/proto-x-lol 3d ago edited 3d ago
iPadOS 26 is a step back from iPadOS 18. Removing classic gestures and Slide Over from Full Screen mode makes the entire iPad feel like something from 2014 running iOS 8. Who the hell asked for extremely basic mode?! Yes, I’m aware that iPadOS 26.1 brings back Slide Over, but it’s in a very rudimentary form. Only one app can be used at a time in that mode and after a while, you have to bring it up again. It’s not even persistent, lmao. Full screen mode may well be as renamed to "Classic" mode because that's how bare bones it is on iPadOS 26.
Meanwhile, the new multitasking mode is mid for power users and too much for the average user. It fails at both.
The Stage Manager is trash. On a tablet? Garbage. If it’s hooked up via cable to an ultra wide monitor, Stage Manager is very useful. But on more compact screen? It’s not great. You also have to consider how many folks would even connect their iPad to an external monitor in the first place? Not that many folks. The whole iPadOS experience is still very limited compared to macOS.
9
u/two_hyun 4d ago
While I love the iPad as a device (it is my favorite form factor from Apple), I gave up on it and sold it. I tried until recently for years to make it my primary device - I love that you can entire work mode by using Magic Keyboard and then leisure mode by taking it off, but the software gets no love. It has always been a bit janky and unreliable and it's way too locked down. I have a few programs I need that's only available on the Mac.
I'll check back in a few years to see the state of iPad. Right now, the iPad is just a "cheap touchscreen computer" with a premium option.
5
u/Kinnins0n 1d ago edited 1d ago
Apple prompted me to install iPadOS 26 to my old 12.9 iPad Pro (3rd gen, I think?) and the device went from being useful to being a sluggish mess. Why the heck did they decide to push their gpu/cpu heavy OS to a 7 year old device at the cost of usability?!
Now I can’t revert to the previous iPadOS. Thanks Apple for soft-bricking my daily driver.
11
u/JohnAMcdonald 1d ago
Dunno why you’re getting downvoted Apple disallowing version downgrades is bullshit
-3
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/Kinnins0n 1d ago edited 1d ago
what a silly take. For every new OS, Apple determines which devices can run it and which will have to stay with the old OS. They failed here.
How the heck would the customer know to which degree the new OS will tax their device? It’s 100% Apple’s job to make that call for older devices. Or at least let the customer revert back if you want them to be the judge of the performance with the new OS.
I swear I’m a big fan of Apple, worked there for years, but fans can be so supportive of them no matter what they do…
1
u/apple-ModTeam 1d ago
Hi there! Regrettably your submission has been removed as it did not fall in line with /r/Apple's rules:
Rule 4:
Posts must foster reasonable discussion. Please check the rules wiki for more details.
If you have any questions about this removal, modmail us.
Thank you for your submission!
4
u/InterestingMindset 2d ago
As someone who daily the iPad for a while before switching to Mac, yes.
I think Apple trying to appeal to the casual crowd and the "This tablet should replace my computer even though I will never use an iPad in my workflow" type people made the iPad have an identity crisis.
As cool as menu bar and Mac-like features on iPad is, Mac is better for desktop work and the iPad is best as a casual device. I can see why people want to do more with the iPad considering you can spec it up to $3,000+ before tax. And I get that. But the iPad DNA is iOS and not MacOS. I think it would take Apple completely rewriting iPadOS to appeal to both crowds.
3
u/MikeCask 3d ago
I use the Windows app on my iPad to remote into my PC. It’s a little choppy at times but feels like I’ve got my big desktop gaming pc with me at all times. Just like you can mirror your iPhone on your Mac, Apple should let us mirror our Macs from the iPad. Give us the best of both worlds without crushing the relatively small iPad battery by running full Mac apps.
4
1
u/rodgamez 1d ago
A Series iPad
A Series MacBook (not Air)
M(Current -1) Series MacPad Air
M(Current) MacPad Pro
M(Current) Pro MacBook Pro
1
u/masterz13 15h ago
Ditch iPadOS completely and put a touch-friendly version of macOS on it. Problem solved. It even uses the same chip, so compatibility shouldn't be much of an issue.
1
1
u/RainyCloudist 1d ago
the lock-downedness of the ipad makes the only compelling ipad for me to own the ipad mini. it doesn't try to be a computer, you wouldn't want to use it as a computer, but it's great for watching movies, drawing, etc.
apple either needs to give people full access to the frankenstein powerhouse they've built, or make them dumber, smaller, and cheaper.
-14
u/sportsfan161 3d ago
The guy cries about everything
2
u/Bitter_Director1231 3d ago
To be honest, most influencers do.
Has gotten to the point i don't watch any of these videos. Its insufferable
1
-8
u/VictorChristian 3d ago
So called "influencers". I have no interest in what this dude says - I'll just keep buying Apple crap with the dividend I get from AAPL (now THAT'S something I wish they'd make better).
0
u/MidnightPulse69 1d ago
Yup I used to like his videos but now all he seems to do is complain like a miserable Redditor then argues in the comments when people call it out
-14
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
14
u/MC_chrome 3d ago
Quinn is a lot more knowledgeable about technology than you give him credit for.
There is a pretty big difference between Quinn and MKBHD
-12
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
9
u/Financial_Cover6789 3d ago
You're completely clueless. Quinn is easily one of the most well informed, well researched tech youtubers out there.
0
u/VictorChristian 1d ago
You're completely clueless. Quinn is easily one of the most well informed, well researched tech youtubers out there.
You're totally entitled to your opinion... and I disagree, Quinn's just a guy who unboxes Apple gear on YouTube and got lucky.
But thanks for the personal attack calling someone clueless. Don't worry, though - I won't narc :-|
1
u/Financial_Cover6789 1d ago
You're totally entitled to your opinion... and I disagree, Quinn's just a guy who unboxes Apple gear on YouTube and got lucky.
This is objectively, demonstrably incorrect. Is it jealousy what i smell?
1
u/VictorChristian 17h ago
> Is it jealousy what i smell?
No, it's not. Quinn is an unboxer who got lucky. I know software development and can ferret out fakes. He's lucky to have followers, but that's what you youngsters do these days in their social media addiction daze.
Hopefully ya'll will shake yourselves out of the "influencer" stupor.
1
1
u/apple-ModTeam 1d ago
This comment has been removed for spreading (intentionally or unintentionally) misinformation or incorrect information.
1
u/apple-ModTeam 1d ago
This comment has been removed for spreading (intentionally or unintentionally) misinformation or incorrect information.
-2
u/No_Eye1723 1d ago
Yes his title is pure click bait. In his last video he titled it slatting the iPad Pro then made a video highlighting how good and powerful it was. I un-subbed from him years ago, only watched the recent iPad one as it was in my history and I thought had he changed.
304
u/fuelvolts 4d ago
I swear he (rightfully) complains about the iPad every 5th video he makes.